Unit 8 · Technology & Future · Lesson 36
Tech in My Pocket
Learn precise B2 tech vocabulary and how to describe features. You'll compare devices and apps so you can talk about tech naturally.
Warm-up · §1
5 minGet talking
First thing you check on your phone in the morning — and how do you feel about that?
Rank three apps you'd delete last: messaging, maps, banking, social, music, camera.
One piece of tech from ten years ago you actually miss. Why?
Grammar focus · §2
8–10 minRelative clauses for describing tech
Quick rule
Defining = essential info, no commas. Non-defining = extra info, commas + no 'that'.
Pattern builder
People (subject/object)
who / that
e.g. The friend who fixed my laptop.
Things
which / that
e.g. An app which tracks sleep.
Possession
whose
e.g. A brand whose products actually last.
Place / time
where / when
e.g. The moment when the screen froze.
Compare
| Type | Commas? | 'That' allowed? |
|---|---|---|
| Defining | No | Yes — 'The app that I use…' |
| Non-defining | Yes | No — must be 'which' or 'who' |
Examples
- →
The app which recommends podcasts is really accurate. (defining)
- →
My phone, which I bought last year, already feels slow. (non-defining)
- →
The person who set up my Wi-Fi charged too much.
- →
That's the feature I use most. (relative pronoun dropped)
- →
It's the kind of tool whose interface actually makes sense.
Common mistakes
My phone that I bought last year is slow.
✓ My phone, which I bought last year, is slow.
You only have one phone — extra info needs commas + 'which'.
The app who I use is free.
✓ The app which/that I use is free.
'Who' is for people; use 'which' or 'that' for things.
Natural English
In speech, native speakers drop the object pronoun constantly: 'the app I use most' not 'the app that I use most'. Sounds more fluent.
Deep dive (full explanation)
Relative clauses let you describe a thing precisely without starting a new sentence. Defining clauses (no commas) identify which one. Non-defining clauses (commas) add extra information.
Question 1.'The app ___ I use for maps works offline.'
Question 2.'My laptop, ___ is three years old, still runs fine.'
Question 3.'A brand ___ products last is worth paying for.'
Question 4.Which pronoun can you drop?
Question 5.Which is WRONG?
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Quick check 1.'The app ___ I use for maps works offline.'
Quick check 2.'My laptop, ___ is three years old, still runs fine.'
Vocabulary · §3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
device
a piece of electronic equipment (phone, tablet, laptop).
feature
a specific function or characteristic of a product.
user-friendly
easy to understand and use.
intuitive
easy to use without instructions.
glitchy
having small technical problems.
to crash
(software) to stop working suddenly.
to freeze
to stop responding but not close.
battery life
how long a battery lasts on one charge.
notification
a small message alerting you to something.
storage
space on a device for files and apps.
wearable
tech worn on the body (watch, ring, tracker).
seamless
working smoothly without interruption.
Activate it now
Use each word about tech you actually own.
- Make it yours#1
Which app on your phone is the most intuitive? Which is the most glitchy?
intuitiveglitchy - Your view#2
Is battery life or storage more important to you now?
battery lifestorage - Rank#3
Rank most annoying: crashes, freezes, notifications, low battery.
to crashto freezenotification - Complete#4
Finish: 'The one feature I couldn't live without is ___ because ___.'
feature - Discuss#5
Are wearables useful or a fad?
wearableseamless
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · §4
3–4 minWord stress in tech compounds
Compound tech words usually stress the FIRST word: BATTERY life, USER-friendly, NOTIfication panel. Getting the stress wrong makes you hard to follow.
- BATTery life
- USer-friendly
- SMARTphone
- TOUCHscreen
- WEARable device
- NOTiFICation
Reading · §5
8–10 minThe Phone in Your Hand
Listen to the passage
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
The average person now spends over four hours a day on their phone — a device that didn't exist in a usable form twenty years ago. The interesting thing isn't the number. It's what we choose to do with those four hours. Most of it isn't calls. It's messaging, scrolling, listening, checking. The features we use most — notifications, feeds, search — are also the features designed hardest to keep us. A phone that just made calls would sit in a drawer. Designers talk about 'friction'. Good tech removes friction: seamless payment, intuitive apps, one-tap login. But sometimes friction is protection. The app that makes it too easy to spend, scroll or share is also the app that quietly changes your behaviour. The useful question isn't 'is my phone good?'. It's 'which features actually work for me, and which ones use me?'.
Question 1.How long does the average person spend on their phone daily?
Question 2.What is 'friction' in tech design?
Question 3.According to the text, friction can be…
Question 4.The 'useful question' is about…
Q1.Most phone time is spent on calls.
Q2.Seamless design always benefits the user.
Q3.The writer suggests we should question which features control us.
Listening · §6
8–10 minTwo friends comparing phones (about 1:20)
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Sam:So, is the new one worth it?
Priya:Honestly? The camera is better, which I use daily, so yes.
Sam:Battery life?
Priya:Roughly the same. My old one, which I had for four years, was actually decent.
Sam:Any features you don't use?
Priya:The health tracking stuff. It's clever, but it's the kind of feature you check twice and forget.
Sam:Is it intuitive?
Priya:Mostly. There are one or two menus which are weirdly hidden, but nothing serious.
Sam:Would you recommend it?
Priya:If your current phone is glitchy or freezes, yes. If it's fine, wait a year.
Question 1.Why did Priya upgrade?
Question 2.How long did she keep her previous phone?
Question 3.Her opinion on health tracking?
Question 4.Who should NOT upgrade, according to her?
Exam skills · §7
5 minStrategy focus — Describing objects in Speaking
Task
When asked about an object, weak candidates list features. Strong candidates use relative clauses to add depth.
Strategy
Two-move formula: name it → add a relative clause. 'It's a device WHICH…' / 'It's the kind of app WHOSE…'. This adds precision fast.
Example
It's a small wearable which tracks my sleep and heart rate. The feature I like most is the one that quietly reminds me to move — nothing pushy, just a small tap on the wrist.
Practice · §8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.The app ___ I use for banking is really user-friendly.
Question 2.My laptop, ___ is three years old, still works fine.
Question 3.It's a brand ___ products last for years.
Question 4.The best ___ of this phone is the camera.
Question 5.The interface is really ___ — no manual needed.
Question 6.My screen keeps ___ — I have to restart.
Q1.Fill: 'A device you wear' = w___.
Q2.Fill: 'Working smoothly without breaks' = s___.
Q3.Fill: 'The phone w___ I bought last year' (defining, thing).
Writing · §9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 130–170 word review of one piece of tech you use daily. Use at least TWO relative clauses and FIVE items of tech vocabulary.
Your answer
Show model answer
I've been using a small fitness tracker for six months now, and honestly it's the wearable I never thought I'd like. It's a device which sits quietly on my wrist and only speaks when it needs to. The feature I use most is the sleep tracking, which turned out to be surprisingly accurate. The interface is intuitive — no manual, no menus buried three levels deep. Battery life is about a week, which is far better than my phone. It's not perfect. The app, which is otherwise fine, occasionally freezes when I open the weekly summary. And the reminders to move can feel a bit much on a slow Sunday. Overall, it's user-friendly, seamless with my phone, and — the real test — I actually keep wearing it. If you want a wearable that doesn't shout at you every ten minutes, this one's a solid choice.
Speaking · §10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
ROLEPLAY — Recommending tech. Your teacher/partner asks: 'I'm thinking about buying [phone / laptop / wearable]. What should I know?' Answer in 60–90 seconds using TWO relative clauses and FIVE tech vocabulary items.
Useful phrases
- • It's a device which ___
- • The feature I use most is ___
- • The battery life ___
- • It's really intuitive / user-friendly ___
- • One thing which annoys me ___
- • I'd recommend it if ___
- FriendI'm thinking of buying a new phone. Any advice?
- You_______________
- FriendWhat about your current one?
- You_______________
- FriendIs it worth spending more?
- You_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Optional group extensions. ~18 min total
Homework · §11
Take-homeTake it home
Write a 150-word review of a device you own, using at least two relative clauses.
Record a 60-second voice note describing your most-used app and its best feature.
Write true sentences with: device, feature, intuitive, glitchy, wearable, seamless.
Watch a 3-minute tech review and note two relative clauses the reviewer uses.
Recap · §12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- You can use defining and non-defining relative clauses.
- You can describe devices with precise B2 tech vocabulary.
- You can recommend or review a piece of tech clearly.
- You're ready for Lesson 37 — 'Working with AI'.